WHYY Events

March 31: A Lehigh Valley community forum
You care about the Lehigh Valley and want it to be a great place to work, open businesses and send children to school. Tell us your hopes, fears and dreams for your city. At this meeting you can share your ideas with your neighbors. Your ideas will help reporters and community leaders understand the issues that are important to you.

April 2: City Council Candidate Convention
Join us at the first ever City Council Candidate Convention, organized by Young Involved Philadelphia (YIP) and the Committee of Seventy and hosted by WHYY. This is a great opportunity to meet with the candidates running for council and learn about the key issues in the upcoming election.

April 7: Tavis Smiley - My Journey with Maya
In his newest novel, My Journey with Maya, Tavis Smiley beautifully recounts a friendship filled with conversation on art, politics, history, music, religion and race. Join us in our studios for a book release party and discussion with the renowned talk show host, political commentator and author.

April 14: City and Self: Bringing Humanity to Work
Each week in her blog "Human at Work," Susan Richardson explores how we bring spirituality and our full humanity to work with us. Join Susan for a discussion with Philadelphians about finding meaning in the work we do, and connecting it with the city around us.

April 20: Radio Times on the Road with Marty Moss-Coane
Meet Radio Times host Marty Moss-Coane in Doylestown for a conversation on the rich cultural heritage of Bucks County. Curator and historian David Leopold will join Marty to discuss the many writers, performers and cartoonists that have settled in Bucks County – from the golden-age of the mid-twentieth century to the recent revival of the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope.

April 21: Speak Easy Forum Series: Philadelphia Neighborhoods in Flux
Join other Philadelphia homeowners, renters, business owners and neighbors for a public forum about changing neighborhoods. How can we improve our communities for long-term residents while accommodating the interests of changing demographics? What would a fair future look like to you?

April 24: Sesame Street Live: Make a New Friend
Elmo, Grover, Abby Cadabby, and their Sesame Street friends welcome Chamki, Grover’s friend from India, to Sesame Street. Together, they explore the universal fun of friendship and celebrate cultural similarities, from singing and dancing, to sharing cookies! Join the fun and make a memory with your friends and family!

April 27: Leading Questions – Philadelphia Mayoral Debate
What does it take to lead a major city as mayor – and what makes a candidate qualified to claim that office? Before you vote in the mayoral primary, hear the Democratic candidates’ views on leadership during this important discussion about the future of Philadelphia.

April 27: Coffee with Cokie
WHYY invites you to spend your afternoon having Coffee with Cokie. Cokie Roberts will join us in our Center City studio discussing current events and national politics. Tickets are VERY limited and we are almost SOLD OUT.

April 27: Big Ideas for Busy People
Join Maiken Scott host of WHYY-FM’s health and science program The Pulse to learn more from some dynamic local scientists and engineers who are making heads turn and profoundly impacting our understanding of the world around us!

May 2, 8, 20 & 26: Screening - Limited Partnership
Decades before The Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8, one gay couple, a Filipino American and an Australian, fell in love and over the course of 40 years took on the U.S. government to fight for marriage and immigration equality.

May 5: David Brooks - The Road to Character
Eye-opening and deeply personal, The Road to Character proves that it is how we want to be remembered – and not what we put on our resumes – that truly matters. This proves to be David Brooks' most powerful and revolutionary book yet.

May 6: Marketplace with David Brancaccio
WHYY is excited to welcome David Brancaccio to Philadelphia to share his insights with Dan Gorenstein and Dave Heller. We will learn about the behind the scenes elements of the daily radio show. Plus, we'll get a bit of insider information on a topic that will affect everyone in 2015.

About WHYY Events

Each year, WHYY hosts over 80 events connecting you to the best that public media and the region have to offer, including meet-and-greet opportunities with your favorite public media personalities like Ira Glass, Terry Gross, Jim Lehrer and yes, Cookie Monster; film screenings; political and policy forums; concerts; PBS Kids character parties; and much, much more.

WHYY members have access to special Member-only events and opportunities, and receive free or discounted admission to all other WHYY events. Also, with the WHYY Member Card, WHYY members receive 2-for-1 admission and other great discounts at a wide variety of the region's museums; cultural, educational and family-friendly organizations; performing arts and theater venues; and more! Visit WHYY's Member Card Partner Page for the full list.

Not a member? Join today and start taking advantage of these great benefits!

Courses at WHYY's Public Media Commons

The Public Media Commons is a physical embodiment of WHYY's commitment to community engagement. It serves as a hub of media literacy for the Philadelphia area, a gathering place for educators, a hands-on learning environment for students and a venue for performers and lecturers. Select a course below for more information and to register, or view the current course catalog (PDF).

This experience is offered by appointment only. For more information and to make an appointment to tell your story, call 215-351-3318.

Courses for Educators

E201 -- Teaching Documentary Production

Course registration coming soon

E202 -- Teaching News Literacy

Course registration coming soon

E301 -- Teaching Multimedia Journalism

Course registration coming soon

Youth Afterschool Courses

Y101 -- Documentary Workshop

Course registration coming soon

Y102 -- Studio Production

Course registration coming soon

Y102 -- Radio Production

Course registration coming soon

Arts Shuffle

WHYY's Arts Shuffle highlights what's going on in your area with a weekly selection of regional arts and culture opportunities. Plus, an in-depth listing in the NewsWorks entertainment gude. See what's new »

And already booked for 2016!

April 9: Lancaster PA Master Gardeners

Lancaster, PA

Details to come

Mike McGrath at TEDx

Mike McGrath covered everything you need to know about composting at the TEDxPhoenixville event in October 2012. Find his talk helpful? Be sure to mark your calendars to catch Mike at other fun & informative gardening events, listed below!

Gardening events in the Delaware Valley

This program will outline a number of design techniques, such as using recycled items, plant placement, and even choosing deer-resistant plants that will simultaneously help Mother Earth and provide a more attractive garden for year-round enjoyment. A long-time proponent of unusual and fun plants, lecturer Bruce Crawford is responsible for Rutgers University's 180-acre garden. He is also an adjunct professor in Landscape Architecture at Rutgers. This lecture is part of the PHS Eugene and Marie-Louise Jackson Lecture Series and is jointly sponsored by the Allentown Garden Club, the Hardy Plant Society, and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Round out the day with lunch or dinner at an area restaurant and visit interesting local sights in and around Allentown. Travel directions will be sent in early April. The fee for this lecture is $10 per person. Please pre-register at www.pennhort.net/lehigh.

April 25, 10 am to 1 pm: Arbor Day Open House

Wister Center

Cost: Free and open to the public

Celebrate Arbor Day with the Scott Arboretum and plant a tree. Bring the family to the Scott Arboretum to receive a free sapling tree (one per family while supplies last) and enjoy refreshments and a scavenger hunt through the arboretum. Staff will be on hand to answer questions about trees, gardening, and the Arboretum.

The Scott Arboretum is an educational garden of ideas and suggestions. Covering more than 300 acres of the Swarthmore College Campus and exhibiting over 4,000 different kinds of plants, the Arboretum displays some of the best trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals for use in the Delaware Valley. Established in 1929 as a living memorial to Arthur Hoyt Scott, the Arboretum is open to the public year-round free of charge, from dawn to dusk. Adam Levine in Garden Design magazine described the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College as "the most beautiful campus in America." Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, please call the Arboretum office at 610-328-8025.

April 28, 4:30 to 6 pm: Green Roof Tour

Learn about the inner workings, benefits, and beauty of green roofs while exploring the three we have at the Arboretum. Please note the level of difficulty on these tours is higher than others we offer; a brisk walk and several steps are required to reach the final roof. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted on the roofs.

The tour will begin at the Scott Arboretum offices and is free and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, the tour will be canceled. For more information, please call the Scott Arboretum offices at 610-328-8025.
The Scott Arboretum is an educational garden of ideas and suggestions. Covering more than 300 acres of the Swarthmore College Campus and exhibiting over 4,000 different kinds of plants, the Arboretum displays some of the best trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals for use in the Delaware Valley. Established in 1929 as a living memorial to Arthur Hoyt Scott, the Arboretum is open to the public year-round free of charge, from dawn to dusk. Adam Levine of Garden Design magazine described the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College as "the most beautiful campus in America." Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, please call the Arboretum Offices at 610-328-8025. Visit us at www.scottarboretum.org.

April 30 - May 2, 2015: Native Plant Sale

Coverdale Farm Preserve in Greenville, DE

The Native Plant Sale features more than 300 rare, unusual and favorite varieties of native wildflowers, trees, shrubs, ferns and aquatic plants for all growing conditions, including drought-tolerant. Some are introductions from the nearby Mt. Cuba Center and many species attract wildlife such as birds and butterflies. It is open from April 30 - May 1 from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM for members only, and to the public on May 2 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM and May 3 from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Admission to this event is free.

May 1 - 2, 2015: Arasapha Garden Club Celebrates Spring with Annual Open Air Market

Market Square: Second & Delaware Streets, City of New Castle, Delaware

Join the Arasapha Garden Club for a New Castle tradition, its annual May Market, a "special market filled with lovely things." The free, open air event includes a sale of unique, fresh flowering plants and herbs; artisan crafts; special white elephant finds; and baked goods. Master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions about a variety of gardening topics and offer demonstrations. A raffle at the market entrance will give visitors a chance to win a beautiful handmade quilt that was created by club members.

"Every year we welcome visitors throughout the region to our May Market," shares Linda Suskie, co-chair of the event and co-chair of the board. "The Market is unique in that you truly can go treasure hunting here: the plants we sell can't be found at the big-box stores and our carefully-selected set of vendors include emerging and experienced artists and craftspeople. And a visit to the Market isn't complete without stopping by the colonial gardens of the Amstel and Dutch Houses, free to the public."

Proceeds from the sale benefit preservation and maintenance of the gardens of the beloved colonial properties of the New Castle Historical Society, including the 18th century Amstel House and the 17th century Dutch House.

May 2, 2015,9:00 am - 3:00 pm: Tyler Arboretum's Plant Sale

Tyler Arboretum: 515 Painter Road, Media, PA 19063

Tyler's annual Plant Sale offers gardeners a myriad of options and hard to find trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and herbs. This year's sale features a special selection of tough plants for tough spaces. As always, there will also be a strong assortment of deer-resistant plants. Our plant experts will be on hand to help select the best plants for individual landscapes and gardens and our volunteers will help pack and load your new treasures for the ride home.
Admission to the Arboretum is FREE to everyone for Saturday's event.

Shoppers may choose from over 1600 certified organic plants and heirloom tomatoes. There will be the usual favorites and some new varieties, including: basil 'pesto perpetuo', rosemary 'barbecue', salvia 'hot lips', dinosaur kale, and cassia 'popcorn' ( which smells like buttered popcorn). Baked goods and the club's own dried herb mixture, "Dillio", will be offered as well. Profits from the sale benefit local community gardens and projects. The sale will be held rain or shine.

The Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association (CRC) is promoting rain gardens as an attractive and affordable way for homeowners to reduce polluted runoff thanks to a grant from the Water Resources Education Network. Media Borough and Nether Providence Township feature demonstration rain gardens at their municipal headquarters and each will work with CRC and Aqua Pennsylvania to encourage residents to plant a "do it yourself" rain garden at home. A rain garden is a depression planted with grasses, flowers, and shrubs that allows rainwater from hard surfaces to absorb into the ground instead of flowing into streams. Rain gardens improve water quality in nearby streams and also serve as a beautiful alternative to lawn, enhancing curb appeal in residential neighborhoods. After large storms all of the water in a properly designed rain garden will absorb within 48 hours so they do not harbor mosquitoes. Nether Providence Township and Media Borough will each host a community workshop on rain gardens, scheduled for May 3 and May 17, 2015, respectively. More details on the workshops will be available at www.crcwatersheds.org in the spring. The project will also produce new web materials and signs at the demonstration sites that connect homeowners with the information they need to build their own rain garden. The project is funded by the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund through a Section 319 federal Clean Water act grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For more information, please contact CRC at 610-359-1440 or info@crcwatersheds.org.

June 20: Community Gardens Day

The Neighborhood Gardens Trust, Philadelphia's largest land trust, will celebrate the second annual Community Gardens Day on Saturday, June 20, 2015. Participating gardens throughout the city will welcome visitors to an array of free activities highlighting the benefits of preserving and supporting community gardens and open spaces. Participating gardens will host demos, workdays, performances, family activities, and other special programs. To find a garden near you, go to http://ngtrust.org/index.php/community-gardens-day/.

New and Beginning Farmer Training Program

Various locations

The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension is pleased to announce its 2015 New and Beginning Farmer Training Program. This extensive program is designed for new and beginning farmers working in small-scale vegetable and/or fruit production. Through hands-on training, demonstrations, workshops, field trips and farm tours, as well as self-study, growers will spend an entire growing season learning and growing with Delaware Cooperative Extension, and other, invited agriculture industry professionals. Although not limited to the following topics, this training will explore the fundamentals of soil fertility and health, basic crop production, integrated pest management, food safety, marketing, business planning and development, and provide an excellent networking opportunity. This training program is scheduled for the entirety of the growing season.

In New Castle County, meetings are scheduled for the third Monday evening of the month, 6-8 pm, February- May and September-November on February 16, March 16, April 20, May 18, June-July-August (dates to be determined at the start of the training program based on participants' availability), September 21, October 19, and November 16. Sessions will be held at the Extension Office, and on the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources campus and cooperating farms. There will be additional evening and occasional Saturday sessions to accommodate field trips, hands-on activities and farm tours.

In Sussex County, meetings are scheduled for the fourth Monday evenings of the month, 6-8 pm on February 23, March 23, April 27, May 19 (due to the Memorial Day holiday), June-July-August (dates to be determined at the start of the training program based on participants' availability), September 28, October 26 and November 23. Sessions will be held at the Extension Office, Carvel Research and Education Center and cooperating farms. There will be additional evening and occasional Saturday sessions to accommodate field trips, hands-on activities and farm tours.

For registration information and any additional questions or concerns, please contact Carrie Murphy, Extension Educator, at cjmurphy@udel.edu or 302-831-2667 in New Castle county; or Tracy Wootten, Extension Educator, at wootten@udel.edu or 302-856-7303 in Sussex county.

Become a guide at Morris Arboretum

Guides give their time and energy to the Arboretum for many reasons: to learn exciting new things, to be inspired by the beauty of Morris Arboretum, and also to meet staff and other volunteers who believe trees are vitally important to everyone's life. Our very knowledgeable guides promote the Arboretum's mission to their neighbors and friends by encouraging them to visit, volunteer and become members. Even more importantly, guides encourage environmental stewardship in neighborhoods near and far. Become a guide at Morris Arboretum and share your knowledge and joy of nature with others! New guide training, a 30-hour course, is scheduled for 11 days in March. Register early to reserve your space and this spring you could be leading your own tour. For more information and to register, contact Liza Hawley, Assistant Director Visitor Education, at efhawley@upenn.edu or 215-247-5777 x128. www.morrisarboretum.org

Delaware Master Gardener Volunteer Educator Training

To learn more about the Master Gardeners and the Training Program, attend an information session at your local library this month:Hockessin Library: Monday, March 23, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Appoquinimink Library: Wednesday, March 25, 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Brandywine Hundred Library: Monday, March 30, 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Delaware Cooperative Extension in New Castle County is now accepting applications for Master Gardener volunteer educator training. Training will run Monday and Wednesday afternoons starting Wednesday, September 2, 2015 and continuing through November 23, 2015. "This training program is designed to make good educators out of good gardeners," said Extension Educator Carrie Murphy. "Trainees pledge to devote volunteer time to help Cooperative Extension provide research-based information to the gardening public. Without this volunteer program, we could not reach nearly as many people as we do now."
Training consists of horticultural and educational topics, with emphasis on hands-on experience and active learning techniques. There is a training fee of $150. Scholarships are available based on financial need. This and all other Delaware Cooperative Extension System programs are open to all without regard to race, color, sex, disability, age, or national origin.

WHYY is Greater Philadelphia's leading public media provider, serving southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and all of Delaware for more than 50 years. We take pride in bringing our audience news when it needs it, entertainment when it wants it and education when it counts -- on television, radio and the Web and in the community.